to tailor your special day with personalised favours and menus, as well as offering you the opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones.” This way you can focus your budget to bring your dreams to life with everything you want, and more. GUEST LIST One of the most difficult parts of planning an intimate day is deciding who makes it onto your very select guest list. Fear not, our experts have some great tips for narrowing it down. “When it comes to who to invite, I always say to my couples that it’s an honour to be invited,” Florrie tells us. “You should only invite those who have made a positive impact on your life and those who the day wouldn’t be complete without.” Francesca agrees: “Deciding who to invite can be a delicate process. It’s an opportunity to bring together those who’ve left an indelible mark on your life and your relationship. Keep the list exclusive to those who hold a special place in your hearts, creating an environment where everyone is not just a guest but an integral part of your journey.” While keeping the list to the very closest family and friends, family dynamics for some can be complicated. “This is a big one,” says Precious. “Work out if there are any relatives who absolutely must be invited, as you don’t want to create unnecessary tension for yourself. However, it is your wedding day, so if you feel strongly that you don’t want certain people there, then you should be able to make that decision. There’s less pressure in this case to invite everyone you know!” Laura Barfield from Simply Laura Calligraphy says it’s all about the atmosphere you want to create: “I think it’s really important to invite those who’re going to enjoy your big day and make you feel special. Write a list of everyone you’d consider inviting, separate out your top-tier, then be realistic about what you can afford. It’s always good to ask your parents for their input and be fair with both sides of the family.” “The people in the room on your big day wishing you luck, drinking your bar bill and eating your budget absolutely need to also be the ones who’ll feed you if you’re hungry, hug you when you need it and dance with you through the tears. If you wouldn’t ask them for help, don’t ask them to play.” – Helen Noble, Celebrant of Surrey “WE DO” An oh-so romantic intimate ceremony is always worth considering. Helen Noble, Celebrant of Surrey says, “A horseshoe seating shape is always intimate. It’s like those rows of seats are actually hugging the ceremony space, and makes all the difference. “Whether its 20 guests or 200, it’s the transformation from worry to wonder that I love. You might think you’ll spend less time planning or worrying about an intimate wedding, but bear in mind that smaller doesn’t necessarily mean easier. Have a conversation with me or, do my healthy marriage success course. Once you know what your values are, then you say ‘yes’ to more of that and ‘no’ to anything that’s not that!” We love the personal nature of a celebrant-led ceremony, and with fewer guests you can take this even further by involving them in this key part of the day. Ask your celebrant about the various rituals that would involve your congregation such as a wedding ring warming, or unity candle ceremony. “In the end, it’s not about the size of the wedding but the depth of the love and the lasting memories shared with those who matter most,” – Francesca Neame-White, Event Elegance with Francesca CATERING Just because you’ve set enough budget aside to cater for 100 guests, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to invite that many. If you decided to halve that or even cut it down to a third for the same budget, you’d be looking at quality over quantity. For so many of us food tells a story and is a crucial part of any wedding day, so if it’s the area you’ve both chosen to prioritise you really could go all out! What about a seven-course finedining tasting menu? Just some food for thought! STATIONERY So much more detail is possible when your guest list consists of 30 or fewer. “You can really make everything personal for your loved ones,” says Florrie. “Think of ways to include more about your love story and how this relates to your guests. This could be a little nod to some of them on their place cards. You could for example have a little illustration at each setting that represents something your guest loves. You can also elevate your wedding in ways you might not have thought of by having bespoke signage and other details dotted around your venue.” Laura says, “Some couples opt for a place card that their guests can take home such as a wooden log slice, sea glass, pine cone or a Christmas decoration. These can then double up as favours and give your Helen Noble Celebrant of Surrey © www.wowphotography.co.uk Simply Laura Calligraphy de Havilland Memories © https://annafutter-photography.com 54
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